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Modeling Process
This topic lays out a general process for creating a model using SAP. The intent is to demonstrate the
interaction of the various commands available in SAP.
1. Start a model by clicking the File menu > New Model command to access the New Model form. Choose to start the model from defaults
(Initialize Model from Defaults with Units option) or from a previously defined model (Initialize Model From Previous File option). Set the
current units to those to be used most often in the model.

In general, we recommend using one of the SAP2000 templates to start a model whenever
possible. The New Model form has a variety of template buttons that display common types of
structures. Click the appropriate template button. After clicking any of the buttons except the
Blank button or the Grid Only button, use the resulting form to specify the initial geometry for
the model.

◾ The Blank button will display a blank screen into which the initial geometry can be
imported from a variety of formats (AutoCad, CIS/2 Step, FrameWorks Plus, IFC,
IGES, NASTRAN, ProSteel, STRUDL/STAAD, Access Database, Excel Spreadsheet,
SAP2000 V6 or V7 s2k, SAP2000 V8 to V11 s2k, SAP90 text input or tabular
database).

◾ The Grid Only button will display the Quick Grid Lines form. Use that form to specify
the grid system and then use an Import command, or commands on the Draw and Edit
menus to add the frame, cables, tendons, areas, and solids to define the model geometry.
Note that valuable general information about coordinates systems in SAP2000 is
available in the Define Coordinate Systems Grid topic.
2. With one of the templates displayed, click the + (plus) symbol beside the drop-down list(s) in the Section area to access forms to specify the
frame sections or area sections used in the building model. Clicking the + (plus) symbol beside the Material drop-down lists on those forms will
display forms for specifying the material properties, including a "quick material definition" feature that quickly applies standard material
definitions.

If the Grid Only button is used, use the commands on the Define menu to define the frame or area sections and material properties needed for
the model.

3. Use the Design menu > {Aluminum; Cold-Formed Steel; Concrete; Steel Frame Design > View/Revise Preferences commands to specify the
design code or modify any of the default preferences, which are generally consistent with the selected design code.

4. If appropriate, use the Define menu commands to define cable sections, tendon sections, or solid properties to specify parameters for those
objects in building the model.

5. If appropriate, define link properties, joint constraints, hinge properties, or generalized displacements that can then be used to assign parameters
for selected joints/points. Use the nonlinear link element to model base isolators and dampers.

6. Use the Define menu > Load Patterns command to define static load patterns.

7. If mass is used in the model, use the Define menu > Mass Source command to specify the source of mass in the model.

Note: Mass is required if you are doing a modal analysis to determine mode shapes. It is also
required to convert static nonlinear force-deformation results into the capacity spectrum
ADRS format.
8. Use the commands available on the Draw menu to draw frame, cable, tendon, area (poly or rectangular), point (special joints) and link objects
as needed. We recommend assigning structural properties to objects as they are drawn using the Properties of Object form. The form can be
used to assign structural properties, loads or masses. Also the line objects can be used as guidelines for snapping (see Snap To), which helps
draw a model with accurate connectivity.

Note that all joints needed by the objects are automatically generated. No pre-definition of joints is required. Joints can be glued to a grid line.

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Moving the grid line will modify the location of all joints on the grid line and stretch or shrink all objects connected to those joints. Double
click a grid line to display the Define Grid System Data form and accurately reposition the grid line. Also use that form to unlock the grid lines
and drag and drop them on the screen to new locations.

9. Use the Edit menu commands to modify and in some cases tweak the geometry of the model as needed. See the topics in the Edit folder of this
Help for more information about those commands. Two commands, Extrude and Replicate, deserve special attention. The Edit menu > Extrude
command is used to extrude points to frames/cables, line to areas, and areas to solids as well as convert lines to areas or lines and areas to solids
and add solids between areas and areas between lines. The Edit menu > Replicate command is a powerful way of generating a large model from
a small model when the objects and joints form a linear or radial pattern or are symmetrical about a plane.

10. As appropriate, use the Define menu > Groups command to define group names and the Assign menu > Assign to Groups command to assign
groups. A group is a collection of objects that is assigned a unique name. Groups may be used for many different purposes in SAP2000,
including assigning properties or selecting objects for design. Each object may be part of as many groups as needed. Also, use the Define menu
> Joint Patterns command to define a joint pattern and the Assign menu > Assign Joint Patterns command to assign joint patterns. A joint
pattern is a set of scalar values defined at the joints. The specified named joint pattern can be referenced when assigning temperature or pressure
loads to objects. This allows you to describe more complex distributions of temperature and pressure over the structure.

11. Use the Assign menu commands to revise properties in your template model, if necessary, and to make additional assignments to template
members as well as to any other members you might have drawn. The types of assignments that can be made include section properties, loads,
masses, moment releases, partial fixity, and so forth. To make an assignment to an object, select the object then click the appropriate Assign
menu command. See the topics in the Select book of this Help for information on the various options available in SAP2000 for selecting and
deselecting objects.

Note: Right clicking on an object will display an {Object Type} Information form (Point, Line,
Area, Link, Solid). The three tabs on the forms identify the Assignments, Loads, and Location
of the selected object. Left clicking in the cell associated with an assignment, load or coordinate
may display a form that can be used to review and update the item. With a form displayed,
clicking the F1 key on the keyboard will access the Help topic for that form. Also note that
although several assignments can be made to an object, it is only necessary to make those
assignments needed for your model.

If appropriate, use the Define menu > Define Moving Loads commands if a moving load
analysis is to be conducted. Similarly, use the Define menu > Functions > Response Spectrum
command or the Define menu > Functions > Time History command to define the required
functions before defining the required load case.
12. Use the Display menu > Show Tables command to review the model input. Alternatively, right click on an object to display assignment and
load data on an object-by-object basis.

Use the View menu > Set Display Options command, or the Set Display Options button, to
toggle on the display of various input items. Examples of the items that can be toggled on and
off include labels, section properties, releases, springs, local axes, and the like.
14. If desired, use the File menu > Print Tables command to print input data to a file or to the printer. Or use the File menu > Custom Report Writer
command to generate the input data in various formats (.rtf, txt, html).

Alternatively, use the File menu > Export > Save SAP2000 MS Access Database mdb File
command to save the input data in a database file that can be reviewed, modified and printed
using Microsoft Access or the File menu > Export > Save SAP2000 MS Excel Spreadsheet xls
File command to save the input data in a spreadsheet file that can be reviewed, modified and
printed using Microsoft Excel.
15. Use the Analyze menu > Set Analysis Options command to specify the model degrees of freedom.

16. If your model has objects that require manual meshing, use the manual meshing options available using the Edit menu > Edit Lines > Divide
Frames, Edit menu > Edit Areas > Divide Areas, or Edit menu > Divide Solids commands to mesh those objects.

17. Use the Analyze menu > Run Analysis command to check the analysis status of the cases, delete results for cases that have already been run, set
which cases are to be run and then run the analysis. When the analysis is complete, scroll through the text in the Analysis Monitor to check for
any warnings or errors that might invalidate your analysis.

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When the analysis is complete, a deformed shape of the model will automatically display. If desired, animate the deformed shape and mode
shape in 3D perspective by clicking the Start Animation button in the status bar at the bottom of the screen. Animate shell structures displaying
stress contours with the corresponding deformed shapes in full in 3D perspective. While displaying mode shapes, the mode being displayed can
be instantaneously changed with the '+/-' buttons that will appear at the bottom of the screen.

18. Use the display features available on the Display menu to display analysis results on your model or on the screen in a tabular format. See the
topics in the Display folder of this Help for more information about displaying results, such as forces and stresses (joints, links,
frames/cables/tendons, shells, Asolids, solids, and planes), and loads (joints, links, frames/cables/tendons, areas and solids), as well as
miscellaneous assignments (joints, links, frames/cables/tendons, areas, and solids), influence lines, plot functions, and static pushover curves.

Alternatively, use the Display menu > Show Tables command to display analysis results in
tabular format.
19. If desired, use the File menu > Print Tables command to print output to a file or to the printer, or use the File menu > Custom Report Writer
command to generate output in a variety of formats, including those compatible with Word, standard text editors, and .html editors.

Alternatively, use the File menu > Export > Export SAP2000 MS Access Database mdb File
command to save the analysis output data in a database file that can be reviewed, modified and
printed using Microsoft Access or File menu > Export > Export SAP2000 MS Excel
Spreadsheet xls File command to save the analysis output data in a spreadsheet that can be
reviewed, modified and printed using Microsoft Excel.
20. If desired, use the commands available on the Design menu to run your model through one or more of the SAP2000 design postprocessors. See
the Steel Frame Design Procedure, Concrete Frame Design Procedure or Aluminum Frame Design Procedure topics for more information about
completing design.

Important: Remember to save your model often!

TIP: The A to Z Problems provide step-by-step instructions for building a model. Doing a few of the
problems may help you understand the relationship between the commands and how to apply the
software to efficiently and easily complete your engineering tasks.

Non-Linear Static (Pushover) Analysis

Nonlinear static pushover analysis capabilities are provided in the nonlinear version of SAP2000 only.
The nonlinear behavior occurs in discrete user-defined hinges. Currently, hinges can be introduced
into frame objects only and assigned at any location along the frame object. Uncoupled moment,
torsion, axial force and shear hinges are available. There is also a coupled P-M2-M3 hinge that yields
based on the interaction of axial force and bending moments at the hinge location. More than one type
of hinge can exist at the same location; for example, both an M3 (moment) and a V2 (shear) hinge
may be assigned to the same end of a frame object. For more information about hinges, see Hinge
Properties.

A pushover analysis can consist of more than one pushover load case. Each pushover load case can
have a different distribution of load on the structure. For example, a typical pushover analysis might
consist of three pushover load cases. The first would apply gravity load to the structure, the second
would apply one distribution of lateral load over the height of the structure, and the third would apply
another distribution of lateral load over the height of the structure. There are four different methods of
describing the distribution of load on the structure for a pushover load case:

1. A uniform acceleration can be automatically applied. In that case, the lateral force
automatically applied at each node is proportional to the mass tributary to that node.

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2. A lateral force that is proportional to the product of a specified mode shape times its circular
frequency squared (w2) times the mass tributary to a node can be automatically applied at each
node. The user may specify the mode shape to be used in that instance.

3. An arbitrary static load pattern may be defined.

4. Any of the methods described in 1, 2 and 3 can be combined.

Several types of output can be obtained from the nonlinear static pushover analysis:

1. Base shear versus displacement at a specified control joint can be plotted.

2. Base shear versus displacement at a specified control joint can be plotted in the ADRS format
where the vertical axis is spectral acceleration and the horizontal axis is spectral displacement.
The demand spectra can be superimposed on that plot.

3. The sequence of hinge formation and the color-coded state of each hinge can be viewed
graphically, on a step-by-step basis, for each step of the pushover.

4. The member forces can be viewed graphically, on a step-by-step basis, for each step of the
analysis.

5. Tabulated values of base shear versus displacement at each point along the pushover curve,
along with tabulations of the number of hinges beyond certain control points on their hinge
property force-displacement curve can be viewed on the screen, printed, or saved to a file.

6. Tabulated values of the capacity spectrum (ADRS capacity and demand curves), the effective
period and the effective damping can be viewed on the screen, printed, or saved to a file.

The following general sequence of steps is involved in a nonlinear static pushover analysis:

1. Create a model.

2. Define arbitrary static load cases, if needed, for use in the pushover analysis. Note that the
program also has built-in capability to define the distribution of lateral load over the height of
the structure based on both uniform acceleration and mode shapes.

3. Define the pushover load cases.

4. Define hinge properties.

5. Assign hinge properties to frame elements.

6. Run the pushover analysis by selecting a static nonlinear load case on the Set Load Cases to
Run form. The load case will be available only if there is at least one frame object with a hinge
property assigned to it, and there is at least one pushover load case defined. If frame objects are
specified to be designed by the program, this design automatically will be performed before the
pushover analysis routine begins.

7. Review the pushover results.

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8. If necessary, revise the model and repeat steps 2 through 7.

See Also

Override Axis Labels And Range

Override Structural Behavior Type

Aluminum Frame Design Procedure

Following is a typical aluminum frame design process. Note that the sequence of steps taken in any
particular design may vary but the basic process will probably be essentially the same.

1. Use the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design> View/Revise Preferences command to
choose the aluminum frame design code and to review other aluminum frame design
preferences and revise them if necessary. Note that default values are provided for all aluminum
frame design preferences so it is not actually necessary to define any preferences. However,
review the preferences, and if necessary change them, to ensure they are acceptable.

2. Create the model. See Modeling Process for more information.

3. Run the analysis using the Analyze menu > Run Analysis command. If desired, animate the
deformed shapes and mode shapes in 3-D perspective by clicking the Start Animation button in
the status bar at the bottom of the screen. Animate shell structures displaying stress contours
with the corresponding deformed shapes in full 3-D perspective. While displaying mode shapes,
the mode being displayed can be instantaneously changed with the buttons that will appear at
the bottom of the screen. Use the Options menu > Sound command to turn the sound associated
with the animation off or on.

4. Assign aluminum frame overwrites, if needed, using the Design menu > Aluminum Frame
Design > View/Revise Overwrites command. Note that frame objects must be selected before
using this command. Also note that default values are provided for all aluminum frame design
overwrites so it is not actually necessary to define overwrites; however, use this command to
review the default values, and if necessary, change them.

5. Designate design groups, if desired, using the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design >
Select Design Groups command. Note that some groups must already have been created by
selecting objects and clicking the Assign menu > Assign to Groups command.

6. To use any design load combinations other than the defaults created by SAP2000 for the
aluminum frame design, click the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design > Select Design
Combos command. Note that user defined design combos must already have been created using
the Define menu > Combinations command.

7. Click the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design > Start Design/Check of Structure
command to run the aluminum frame design.

8. Review the aluminum frame design results using one of the following methods:

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◾ Click the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design > Display Design Info command to
display design information on the model.

◾ Right click on a frame object while the design results are displayed on it to enter the
interactive design mode and interactively design the frame object. Note that while in this
mode, overwrites can be viewed and revised and the results of the new design displayed
immediately.

If design results are not currently displayed, click the Design menu > Aluminum Frame
Design > Interactive Aluminum Frame Design command and then right click a frame
object to enter the interactive design mode for that object.

10. Use the File menu > Print Tables command to print aluminum frame design data. If frame
objects are selected before using this command, data is printed for only the selected objects.

11. Use the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design > Change Design Section command to
change the design section properties for selected frame objects.

12. Click the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design > Start Design/Check of Structure
command to rerun the aluminum frame design with the new section properties. Review the
results using the procedures described above.

13. Rerun the analysis using the Analyze menu > Run Analysis command. Note that the section
properties used for the analysis are the last specified design section properties.

Compare the lateral displacements with the lateral displacement targets.

14. Click the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design > Start Design/Check of Structure
command to rerun the aluminum frame design with the new analysis results and new section
properties. Review the results using the procedures described above.

15. Again use the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design > Change Design Section command to
change the design section properties for selected frame objects, if necessary.

16. Repeat the process in steps 12, 13, 14 and 15 as many times as necessary until the design
criteria are satisfied, i.e., stresses and displacements are within allowable limits, and the
analysis and design sections are the same.

17. Verify that the lateral displacement are within acceptable limits.

18. Click the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design > Verify all Members Passed command to
verify that all of the final design sections passed the stress check.

19. Click the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design > Verify Analysis vs Design Section
command to verify that all of the final design sections are the same as the last used analysis
sections.

20. Select all frame objects and click the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design > Make Auto
Select Section Null command. This removes any auto select section assignments from the
selected frame objects (if they have the Aluminum Frame design procedure).

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21. Use the File menu > Print Tables command to print selected aluminum frame design results if
desired. In addition, view time history displacements in real time video using the SAP2000
video creation options.

Note: Design is an iterative process. The sections used to run the original analysis are not typically
the same sections that are used at the end of the design process. Always run an analysis using the final
frame section sizes and then run a design check based on the forces obtained from that analysis. Use
the Design menu > Aluminum Frame Design > Verify Analysis vs Design Section command to
ensure that the design sections are the same as the analysis sections.

Concrete Frame Design Procedure

The following sequence describes a typical concrete frame design process for a new building. Note
that although the sequence of steps taken may vary, the basic process probably will be essentially the
same.

1. Use the Design menu > Concrete Frame Design > View/Revise Preferences command to
choose the concrete frame design code and to review other concrete frame design preferences
and revise them if necessary. Note that default values are provided for all concrete frame design
preferences, so it is unnecessary to define any preferences; however, review the preferences,
and if necessary change them, to ensure they are acceptable.

2. Create the building model. See Modeling Process for more information.

3. Run the building analysis using the Analyze menu > Run Analysis command. If desired,
animate the deformed shapes and mode shapes in 3-D perspective by clicking the Start
Animation button in the status bar at the bottom of the screen. Animate shell structures
displaying stress contours with the corresponding deformed shapes in full 3-D perspective.
While displaying mode shapes or deformed shapes, the vector being displayed can be
instantaneously changed with the '+/-' buttons that will appear at the bottom of the screen. Use
the Options menu > Sound command to turn the sound associated with the animation off or on.

4. Assign concrete frame overwrites, if needed, using the Design menu > Concrete Frame Design
> View/Revise Overwrites command. Note that frame objects must be selected before using this
command. Also note that default values are provided for all concrete frame design overwrites,
so it is unnecessary to define any overwrites; however, use this command to review the values,
and if necessary change them. Note that the overwrites can be assigned before or after the
analysis has been run.

5. To use any design load combinations other than the defaults created by the program for the
concrete frame design, click the Design menu > Concrete Frame Design > Select Design
Combo command. Note that design combos must already have been created by clicking the
Define menu > Combinations command.

6. Click the Design menu > Concrete Frame Design > Start Design/Check of Structure command
to run the concrete frame design.

7. Review the concrete frame design results by doing one of the following:

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◾ Click the Design menu > Concrete Frame Design > Display Design Info command to
display design input and output information on the model.

◾ Right click on a frame object while the design results are displayed on it to enter the
interactive design mode and interactively design the frame object. Note that while in this
mode, overwrites can be reviewed and changed with the results of the new design
displayed immediately.

If design results are not currently displayed (and the design has been run), click the
Design menu > Concrete Frame Design > Interactive Concrete Frame Design command
and then right click a frame object to enter the interactive design mode for that object.

8. Use the File menu > Print Tables command to print concrete frame design data. If frame objects
are selected before using this command, data is printed only for the selected objects.

9. Use the Design menu > Concrete Frame Design > Change Design Section command to change
the design section properties for selected frame objects.

10. Click the Design menu > Concrete Frame Design > Start Design/Check of Structure command
to rerun the concrete frame design with the new section properties. Review the results using the
procedures described in Item 7.

11. Rerun the building analysis using the Analyze menu > Run Analysis command. Note that the
section properties used for the analysis are the last specified design section properties.

12. Click the Design menu > Concrete Frame Design > Start Design/Check of Structure command
to rerun the concrete frame design with the new analysis results and new section properties.
Review the results using the procedures described above.

13. Again use the Design menu > Concrete Frame Design > Change Design Section command to
change the design section properties for selected frame objects, if necessary.

14. Repeat the processes in steps 10, 11, 12 and 13 as many times as necessary.

15. Rerun the building analysis using the Analyze menu > Run Analysis command. Note that the
section properties used for the analysis are the last specified design section properties.

16. Click the Design menu > Concrete Frame Design > Start Design/Check of Structure command
to rerun the concrete frame design with the new section properties. Review the results using the
procedures described in Item 7.

17. Click the Design menu > Concrete Frame Design > Verify Analysis vs Design Section
command to verify that all of the final design sections are the same as the last used analysis
sections.

18. Use the File menu > Print Tables command to print selected concrete frame design results, if
desired. In addition, view time history displacements in real time video using the SAP2000
video creation options or use the Custom Report Writer to generate a report, including analysis
and design results, for the model.

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Note: It is important to note that design is an iterative process. The sections used in the original
analysis are not typically the same as those obtained at the end of the design process. Always run the
building analysis using the final frame section sizes and then run a design check using the forces
obtained from that analysis. Use the Design menu > Concrete Frame Design > Verify Analysis vs
Design Section command to verify that the design sections are the same as the analysis sections.

Steel Frame Design Procedure

Following is a typical steel frame design process that might occur for a new building. Note that the
sequence of steps in any particular design may vary but the basic process will probably be essentially
the same.

1. Use the Design menu > Steel Frame Design > View/Revise Preferences command to choose the
steel frame design code and to review other steel frame design preferences and revise them if
necessary. Note that default values are provided for all steel frame design preferences so it is
not actually necessary to define any preferences. However, review the preferences, and if
necessary change them, to ensure they are acceptable.

2. Create the building model. See Modeling Process for more information.

3. Run the building analysis using the Analyze menu > Run Analysis command. If desired,
animate the deformed shapes and mode shapes in 3D perspective by clicking the Start
Animation button in the status bar at the bottom of the screen. Animate shell structures
displaying stress contours with the corresponding deformed shapes in full 3D perspective.
While displaying mode shapes or deformed shapes, the vector being displayed can be
instantaneously changed with the '+/-' buttons that will appear at the bottom of the screen. Use
the Options menu > Sound command to turn the sound associated with the animation off or on.

4. If needed, assign steel frame overwrites using the Design menu > Steel Frame Design >
View/Revise Overwrites command. Note that frame elements must be selected before using this
command. Also note that default values are provided for all steel frame design overwrites so it
is not actually necessary to define any overwrites. However, review them and if necessary
change them to ensure they are acceptable.

5. Designate design groups, if desired, using the Design menu > Steel Frame Design > Select
Design Groups command. Note that groups must have already been created by selecting objects
and clicking the Assign menu > Assign to Groups command.

6. To use any design load combinations other than the defaults created by SAP2000 for the steel
frame design, click the Design menu > Steel Frame Design > Select Design Combos command.
Note that user-specified design combos must have already been created by clicking the Define
menu > Load Combinations command.

7. Designate lateral displacement targets for various load patterns using the Design menu > Steel
Frame Design > Set Lateral Displacement Targets command.

8. Click the Design menu > Steel Frame Design > Start Design/Check of Structure command to
run the steel frame design.

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9. Review the steel frame design results using one of the following methods:

◾ Click the Design menu > Steel Frame Design > Display Design Info command to display
design information on the model.

◾ Right click on a frame element while the design results are displayed on it to enter the
interactive design mode and interactively design the frame element. Note that while you
are in this mode, you can revise overwrites and immediately see the results of the new
design.

If design results are not currently displaying, click the Design menu > Steel Frame
Design > Interactive Steel Frame Design command and then right click a frame element
to enter the interactive design mode for that element.

10. Use the File menu > Print Tables command to print steel frame design data. If a few frame
elements are selected before using this command, data is printed for only the selected elements.

11. Use the Design menu > Steel Frame Design > Change Design Section command to change the
design section properties for selected frame elements.

12. Click the Design menu > Steel Frame Design > Start Design/Check of Structure command to
rerun the steel frame design with the new section properties. Review the results using the
procedures described above.

13. Rerun the building analysis using the Analyze menu > Run Analysis command. Note that the
section properties used for the analysis are the last specified design section properties.

14. Click the Design menu > Steel Frame Design > Start Design/Check of Structure command to
rerun the steel frame design with the new analysis results and new section properties. Review
the results using the procedures described above.

15. Again use the Design menu > Steel Frame Design > Change Design Section command to
change the design section properties for selected frame elements, if necessary.

16. Repeat the process in steps 12, 13, 14 and 15 as many times as necessary.

17. Select all frame elements and click the Design menu > Steel Frame Design > Make Auto Select
Section Null command. This removes any auto select section assignments from the selected
frame elements (if they have the Steel Frame design procedure).

18. Rerun the building analysis using the Analyze menu > Run Analysis command. Note that the
section properties used for the analysis are the last specified design section properties.

19. Verify that the lateral displacements are within acceptable limits.

20. Click the Design menu > Steel Frame Design > Start Design/Check of Structure command to
rerun the steel frame design with the new section properties. Review the results using the
procedures described above.

21. Click the Design menu > Steel Frame Design > Verify Analysis vs Design Section command to
verify that all of the final design sections are the same as the last used analysis sections.

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22. Use the File menu > Print Tables > Design Results command to print selected steel frame
design results if desired. In addition, view time history displacements in real time video using
the SAP2000 video creation options.

Note: Design is an iterative process. The sections used to run the original analysis are not typically
the same sections that are used at the end of the design process. Always run a building analysis using
the final frame section sizes and then run a design check based on the forces obtained from that
analysis. The Design menu > Steel Frame Design > Verify Analysis vs Design Section command is
useful for making sure that the design sections are the same as the analysis sections.

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